our tax revenues are down. historically they have been about 18 to 19% of the gross domestic product. part of that is the recession, but significant loss of revenue is because of the bush tax policies, and it was based on this idealogical fiction if you lower taxes it will increase revenues. and their focus was lowering taxes at the high end. we had higher tax rates under clinton, and we created 40 million jobs and had a surplus. then the bush folks came in put the war on the credit card prescription drugs on the credit card, and lowered taxes at the high end, and we had only 700,000 jobs, and had astonishing deficits since then. >> stephanie: the same l.a. times piece even makes that case with the war in afghanistan winding down, the military is asking for less than congress wants to give. so i think there has been so much hysteria over this fiscal cliff that i'm not sure it's warranted. >> that's exactly right. and also the ryan budget you know, their doctrine -- and it really is doctrining. lower taxes for t